Usage of the character 灰

ash
dust
lime
gray
discouraged; dejected

pàohuī

炮灰

[炮灰]

cannon fodder

jǐhuī

脊灰

[脊灰]

polio (abbr. for 脊髓灰質炎／脊髓灰质炎 (jisuǐhuizhiyān))

níhuī

泥灰

[泥灰]

lime plaster (construction)

huīhè

灰鹤

[灰鶴]

(bird species of China) common crane (Grus grus)

páhuī

爬灰

[爬灰]

incest between father-in-law and daughter-in-law
also written 扒灰

huīxióng

灰熊

[灰熊]

grizzly bear

páhuī

扒灰

[扒灰]

incest between father-in-law and daughter-in-law

huīchén

灰尘

[灰塵]

dust

huīní

灰泥

[灰泥]

plaster
mortar

huījiāng

灰浆

[灰漿]

mortar (for masonry)

zhūhuī

珠灰

[珠灰]

pearl gray

huī'àn

灰暗

[灰暗]

dull gray
drab
murky

mǒhuī

抹灰

[抹灰]

to plaster
to render (a wall)
(fig.) to bring shame on
also pr. (mòhuī)

huītǔ

灰土

[灰土]

dust
(soil taxonomy) spodosol

huīshuǐ

灰水

[灰水]

gray water

huīyàn

灰雁

[灰雁]

(bird species of China) greylag goose (Anser anser)

huīwú

灰鹀

[灰鵐]

(bird species of China) grey bunting (Emberiza variabilis)

chuīhuī

吹灰

[吹灰]

to blow away dust

chīhuī

吃灰

[吃灰]

(neologism c. 2019) (coll.) to gather dust

huīměng

灰獴

[灰獴]

gray mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii)

huīhù

灰鹱

[灰鸌]

(bird species of China) sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus)

yánghuī

洋灰

[洋灰]

cement

huīdù

灰度

[灰度]

grayscale

méihuī

煤灰

[煤灰]

soot

huīlǐng

灰领

[灰領]

gray collar
specialist
technical worker
engineer

shíhuī

石灰

[石灰]

lime (calcium oxide)

gǔhuī

骨灰

[骨灰]

bone ash
cremation ashes; cremains

yānhuī

烟灰

[煙灰]

cigarette ash

huīsè

灰色

[灰色]

gray
ash gray
grizzly
pessimistic
gloomy
dispirited
ambiguous

huīyán

灰岩

[灰岩]

limestone (abbr. for 石灰岩 (shíhuīyán))
CL:塊／块 (kuài)

huīmái

灰霾

[灰霾]

dust haze
dust storm

huīxīn

灰心

[灰心]

to lose heart
to be discouraged

huījìn

灰烬

[灰燼]

ashes

huīcài

灰菜

[灰菜]

fat hen (Chenopodium album), edible annual plant

zhǐhuī

纸灰

[紙灰]

ash from burnt paper

huībái

灰白

[灰白]

ash-colored

shēngshíhuī

生石灰

[生石灰]

calcium oxide CaO
quicklime

línhuīfěn

磷灰粉

[磷灰粉]

apatite (phosphatic lime)

shíhuīyán

石灰岩

[石灰岩]

limestone

huījǐngwú

灰颈鹀

[灰頸鵐]

(bird species of China) grey-necked bunting (Emberiza buchanani)

qiānghuīsè

枪灰色

[槍灰色]

gunmetal gray

huītóudōng

灰头鸫

[灰頭鶇]

(bird species of China) chestnut thrush (Turdus rubrocanus)

huīqíméi

灰奇鹛

[灰奇鶥]

(bird species of China) grey sibia (Heterophasia gracilis)

shíhuīhuá

石灰华

[石灰華]

travertine (geology)
tufa (a type of banded marble)

huīchìdōng

灰翅鸫

[灰翅鶇]

(bird species of China) grey-winged blackbird (Turdus boulboul)

huīlínjí

灰林䳭

[灰林䳭]

(bird species of China) grey bush chat (Saxicola ferreus)

huīshùquè

灰树鹊

[灰樹鵲]

(bird species of China) grey treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)

cǎomùhuī

草木灰

[草木灰]

plant ash

huīlánquè

灰蓝鹊

[灰藍鵲]

(bird species of China) white-winged magpie (Urocissa whiteheadi)

huībānjiū

灰斑鸠

[灰斑鳩]

(bird species of China) Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

huījuǎnwěi

灰卷尾

[灰卷尾]

(bird species of China) ashy drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

guīhuīshí

硅灰石

[硅灰石]

wollastonite CaSiO3

huīliǔyīng

灰柳莺

[灰柳鶯]

(bird species of China) sulphur-bellied warbler (Phylloscopus griseolus)

huīchìyáng

灰赤杨

[灰赤楊]

gray alder (Alnus incana)
speckled alder

huīliūliū

灰溜溜

[灰溜溜]

dull gray
gloomy
dejected
crestfallen
with one's tail between one's legs

Huīgūniang

灰姑娘

[灰姑娘]

Cinderella
a sudden rags-to-riches celebrity

huībānhéng

灰斑鸻

[灰斑鴴]

(bird species of China) grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

huīshānchún

灰山鹑

[灰山鶉]

(bird species of China) grey partridge (Perdix perdix)

hèhuīquè

褐灰雀

[褐灰雀]

(bird species of China) brown bullfinch (Pyrrhula nipalensis)

shènghuījié

圣灰节

[聖灰節]

Ash Wednesday (first day of Lent)

huītóuwú

灰头鹀

[灰頭鵐]

(bird species of China) black-faced bunting (Emberiza spodocephala)

shíhuīshí

石灰石

[石灰石]

limestone

huībèi'ōu

灰背鸥

[灰背鷗]

(bird species of China) slaty-backed gull (Larus schistisagus)

wūhuīyào

乌灰鹞

[烏灰鷂]

(bird species of China) Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus)

huǒshānhuī

火山灰

[火山灰]

volcanic ash

gǔhuīkān

骨灰龛

[骨灰龕]

columbarium

xiāoshíhuī

消石灰

[消石灰]

calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2
slaked lime

huīyànjú

灰燕鵙

[灰燕鵙]

(bird species of China) ashy woodswallow (Artamus fuscus)

wūhuīdōng

乌灰鸫

[烏灰鶇]

(bird species of China) Japanese thrush (Turdus cardis)

huībèidōng

灰背鸫

[灰背鶇]

(bird species of China) grey-backed thrush (Turdus hortulorum)

gǔhuīhé

骨灰盒

[骨灰盒]

box for bone ashes
funerary casket

huīmēngmēng

灰蒙蒙

[灰蒙蒙]

dusky
overcast (of weather)

huīliángniǎo

灰椋鸟

[灰椋鳥]

(bird species of China) white-cheeked starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)

huībānwēng

灰斑鹟

[灰斑鶲]

(bird species of China) grey-streaked flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)

huījílíng

灰鹡鸰

[灰鶺鴒]

(bird species of China) grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

dàhuīláng

大灰狼

[大灰狼]

big bad wolf

huībèisǔn

灰背隼

[灰背隼]

(bird species of China) merlin (Falco columbarius)

huīyànhéng

灰燕鸻

[灰燕鴴]

(bird species of China) small pratincole (Glareola lactea)

yānhuīgāng

烟灰缸

[煙灰缸]

ashtray

huībáisè

灰白色

[灰白色]

ash gray

nǎinaihuī

奶奶灰

[奶奶灰]

granny gray (hair color)

yóuhuīdāo

油灰刀

[油灰刀]

putty knife

huīxǐquè

灰喜鹊

[灰喜鵲]

(bird species of China) azure-winged magpie (Cyanopica cyanus)

Huīpínuò

灰皮诺

[灰皮諾]

Pinot gris (grape type)
Pinot grigio

huīlièquǎn

灰猎犬

[灰獵犬]

greyhound

shúshíhuī

熟石灰

[熟石灰]

slaked lime
hydrated lime

huīlínxiāo

灰林鸮

[灰林鴞]

(bird species of China) Himalayan owl (Strix nivicolum)

shēnhuīsè

深灰色

[深灰色]

dark gray

huīchì'ōu

灰翅鸥

[灰翅鷗]

(bird species of China) glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens)

huībóláo

灰伯劳

[灰伯勞]

(bird species of China) great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor)

línhuīshí

磷灰石

[磷灰石]

apatite
phosphatic limestone

huīlíngē

灰林鸽

[灰林鴿]

(bird species of China) ashy wood pigeon (Columba pulchricollis)

huītóusǒuméi

灰头薮鹛

[灰頭藪鶥]

(bird species of China) red-faced liocichla (Liocichla phoenicea)

sǐhuīfùrán

死灰复燃

[死灰復燃]

lit. ashes burn once more (idiom); fig. sb lost returns to have influence
sth malevolent returns to haunt one

huībèiyànwěi

灰背燕尾

[灰背燕尾]

(bird species of China) slaty-backed forktail (Enicurus schistaceus)

huībuliūdiū

灰不溜丢

[灰不溜丟]

gloomy and dull (idiom)
boring and gray
unpleasantly murky

huīhóuliǔyīng

灰喉柳莺

[灰喉柳鶯]

(bird species of China) ashy-throated warbler (Phylloscopus maculipennis)

huīchìzàoméi

灰翅噪鹛

[灰翅噪鶥]

(bird species of China) moustached laughingthrush (Garrulax cineraceus)

huītóuliángniǎo

灰头椋鸟

[灰頭椋鳥]

(bird species of China) chestnut-tailed starling (Sturnia malabarica)

huīfùdìyīng

灰腹地莺

[灰腹地鶯]

(bird species of China) grey-bellied tesia (Tesia cyaniventer)

hóngfùhuīquè

红腹灰雀

[紅腹灰雀]

(bird species of China) Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

huīguānyāquè

灰冠鸦雀

[灰冠鴉雀]

(bird species of China) Przevalski's parrotbill (Sinosuthora przewalskii)

nánhuībóláo

南灰伯劳

[南灰伯勞]

(bird species of China) southern grey shrike (Lanius meridionalis)

huībuliūqiū

灰不溜秋

[灰不溜秋]

see 灰不溜丟／灰不溜丢 (huībuliūdiū)

huǒshānhuītǔ

火山灰土

[火山灰土]

andosol (soil taxonomy)

huībèiliángniǎo

灰背椋鸟

[灰背椋鳥]

(bird species of China) white-shouldered starling (Sturnia sinensis)

huījiǎoliǔyīng

灰脚柳莺

[灰腳柳鶯]

(bird species of China) pale-legged leaf warbler (Phylloscopus tenellipes)

huīyáncánqiū

灰岩残丘

[灰巖殘丘]

mogote (steep-sided pointed hill in karst landform)

huīyánliǔyīng

灰岩柳莺

[灰岩柳鶯]

(bird species of China) limestone leaf warbler (Phylloscopus calciatilis)

huīlánjīwēng

灰蓝姬鹟

[灰藍姬鶲]

(bird species of China) slaty-blue flycatcher (Ficedula tricolor)

huīguānwēngyīng

灰冠鹟莺

[灰冠鶲鶯]

(bird species of China) grey-crowned warbler (Seicercus tephrocephalus)

huīfùjiǎozhì

灰腹角雉

[灰腹角雉]

(bird species of China) Blyth's tragopan (Tragopan blythii)

huītóuyīngwǔ

灰头鹦鹉

[灰頭鸚鵡]

(bird species of China) grey-headed parakeet (Psittacula finschii)

miànrúhuītǔ

面如灰土

[面如灰土]

ashen-faced (idiom)

huībànpǔyù

灰瓣蹼鹬

[灰瓣蹼鷸]

(bird species of China) red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

huībùlǎjī

灰不喇唧

[灰不喇唧]

dull gray
gray and loathsome

wànniànjùhuī

万念俱灰

[萬念俱灰]

every hope turns to dust (idiom); completely disheartened

chuīhuīzhīlì

吹灰之力

[吹灰之力]

a slight effort

huīxiōngjiāoyīng

灰胸鹪莺

[灰胸鷦鶯]

(bird species of China) grey-breasted prinia (Prinia hodgsonii)

huīshānjiāoniǎo

灰山椒鸟

[灰山椒鳥]

(bird species of China) ashy minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)

huītóulüjiū

灰头绿鸠

[灰頭綠鳩]

(bird species of China) ashy-headed green pigeon (Treron phayrei)

huīfùzàoméi

灰腹噪鹛

[灰腹噪鶥]

(bird species of China) brown-cheeked laughingthrush (Trochalopteron henrici)

ànhuījuānjú

暗灰鹃鵙

[暗灰鵑鵙]

(bird species of China) black-winged cuckooshrike (Coracina melaschistos)

huīxīnsàngqì

灰心丧气

[灰心喪氣]

downhearted
downcast
in despair

huībèibóláo

灰背伯劳

[灰背伯勞]

(bird species of China) grey-backed shrike (Lanius tephronotus)

xīnhuīyìlěng

心灰意冷

[心灰意冷]

discouraged
downhearted

huītóutǔliǎn

灰头土脸

[灰頭土臉]

head and face filthy with grime (idiom)
covered in dirt
dejected and depressed

huītóuhuīquè

灰头灰雀

[灰頭灰雀]

(bird species of China) grey-headed bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythaca)

huīsèdìdài

灰色地带

[灰色地帶]

gray area

huīwěipiāoyù

灰尾漂鹬

[灰尾漂鷸]

(bird species of China) grey-tailed tattler (Tringa brevipes)

huītóumàijī

灰头麦鸡

[灰頭麥雞]

(bird species of China) grey-headed lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

hóngtóuhuīquè

红头灰雀

[紅頭灰雀]

(bird species of China) red-headed bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythrocephala)

huīlánshānquè

灰蓝山雀

[灰藍山雀]

(bird species of China) azure tit (Cyanistes cyanus)

huītóuliǔyīng

灰头柳莺

[灰頭柳鶯]

(bird species of China) grey-hooded warbler (Phylloscopus xanthoschistos)

huīxiōngzhújī

灰胸竹鸡

[灰胸竹雞]

(bird species of China) Chinese bamboo partridge (Bambusicola thoracicus)

huīfēiyānmiè

灰飞烟灭

[灰飛煙滅]

lit. scattered ashes and dispersed smoke (idiom)
fig. to be annihilated
to vanish in a puff of smoke

huīliǎnwēngyīng

灰脸鹟莺

[灰臉鶲鶯]

(bird species of China) grey-cheeked warbler (Seicercus poliogenys)

huīhóuyāquè

灰喉鸦雀

[灰喉鴉雀]

(bird species of China) ashy-throated parrotbill (Sinosuthora alphonsiana)

huītóuquèméi

灰头雀鹛

[灰頭雀鶥]

(bird species of China) Yunnan fulvetta (Alcippe fratercula)

wūhuīyín'ōu

乌灰银鸥

[烏灰銀鷗]

(bird species of China) lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)

huīxiézàoméi

灰胁噪鹛

[灰脅噪鶥]

(bird species of China) grey-sided laughingthrush (Garrulax caerulatus)

huīkuàngquèméi

灰眶雀鹛

[灰眶雀鶥]

(bird species of China) David's fulvetta (Alcippe davidi)

huīyánjiāoméi

灰岩鹪鹛

[灰岩鷦鶥]

(bird species of China) limestone wren-babbler (Napothera crispifrons)

huīkǒngquèzhì

灰孔雀雉

[灰孔雀雉]

(bird species of China) grey peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)

huīduǎnjiǎobēi

灰短脚鹎

[灰短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) ashy bulbul (Hemixos flavala)

xīnhuīyìlǎn

心灰意懒

[心灰意懶]

discouraged
downhearted

huītóuyāquè

灰头鸦雀

[灰頭鴉雀]

(bird species of China) grey-headed parrotbill (Psittiparus gularis)

huīxiōngsǒuméi

灰胸薮鹛

[灰胸藪鶥]

(bird species of China) Emei Shan liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis)

huīliǎnkuángyīng

灰脸𫛭鹰

[灰臉鵟鷹]

(bird species of China) grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus)

qiǎngjīlínhuīshí

羟基磷灰石

[羥基磷灰石]

hydroxy-apatite (phosphatic lime deposited in bone)

Shènghuīzhānlǐrì

圣灰瞻礼日

[聖灰瞻禮日]

Ash Wednesday

pèngyībízihuī

碰一鼻子灰

[碰一鼻子灰]

lit. to have one's nose rubbed in the dirt
fig. to meet with a sharp rebuff

huītóuzhuómùniǎo

灰头啄木鸟

[灰頭啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus)

mǒyībízihuī

抹一鼻子灰

[抹一鼻子灰]

lit. to rub one's nose with dust
to suffer a snub
to meet with a rebuff

huīhóushānjiāoniǎo

灰喉山椒鸟

[灰喉山椒鳥]

(bird species of China) grey-chinned minivet (Pericrocotus solaris)

cǎoyuánhuībóláo

草原灰伯劳

[草原灰伯勞]

(bird species of China) steppe grey shrike (Lanius pallidirostris)

xiǎohuīshānjiāoniǎo

小灰山椒鸟

[小灰山椒鳥]

(bird species of China) Swinhoe's minivet (Pericrocotus cantonensis)

dàhuīzhuómùniǎo

大灰啄木鸟

[大灰啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) great slaty woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus)

jǐsuǐhuīzhìyán

脊髓灰质炎

[脊髓灰質炎]

poliomyelitis

huīyǎnduǎnjiǎobēi

灰眼短脚鹎

[灰眼短腳鵯]

(bird species of China) grey-eyed bulbul (Iole propinqua)

dànhuīméiyánwú

淡灰眉岩鹀

[淡灰眉岩鵐]

(bird species of China) rock bunting (Emberiza cia)

huīfùxiùyǎnniǎo

灰腹绣眼鸟

[灰腹繡眼鳥]

(bird species of China) oriental white-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)

huītóubānchìméi

灰头斑翅鹛

[灰頭斑翅鶥]

(bird species of China) streaked barwing (Actinodura souliei)

huībáihóulínyīng

灰白喉林莺

[灰白喉林鶯]

(bird species of China) common whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

huīhóuzhēnwěiyǔyàn

灰喉针尾雨燕

[灰喉針尾雨燕]

(bird species of China) silver-backed needletail (Hirundapus cochinchinensis)

bùfèichuīhuīzhīlì

不费吹灰之力

[不費吹灰之力]

as easy as blowing off dust
effortless
with ease

fàngshèxìngluòxiàhuī

放射性落下灰

[放射性落下灰]

radioactive fallout

fǎwǎnghuīhuī,shū'érbùlòu

法网灰灰，疏而不漏

[法網灰灰，疏而不漏]

The net of justice is wide, but no-one escapes.